The Labor enquirer., 1887-11-26

VI ocauuu OOa8ot1OnDs
We afirm that we alone are the party o,
true Americsnism, combining homes
democracy and progressive republicanisu
In fact. intead Of in name alone.
Unatea Labes-UeW Vera, ssp& -, 1850,
The Delegates Of the Trade and Labor
Organizations Of New York in conferenc,
assembled make this declaration:
I. Holding that the oorruptions ol
government and the impoverishment Of
labor result from neglect Of the self-evi
dent truths proclaimed BY the founders oi
this Republic that all men are created
equal and are endowed BY their Creatol
with unalienable rights, We aim at the
abolition Of the system which compels
men to pay their fellow-creatures for the
use Of Gods gifts TO all, and permits mo
nopolizers to deprive labor Of natural ep
portunities for employment thus filing
the land with tramps and paupers and
bringing about an unnatural competi-
tion which tends to reduce wages TO star.
vation rates and 10 make the wealth pro.
ducer the industrial slave of those who
grow rich BY his toll.
II. Holding, moreover, that the sdvsn.
tages arising from social growth and i'm
provement belong TO society at large, we
aim at the abolition of the system which
makes such benehcent inventions a. the
railroad and telegraph . means for the
oppression Of the people and the aggran-
dizement Of an aristocracy Of wealth and
power. We declare the true purpose OF
government TO be the maintenance Of
that sacred right Of property which gives
to every one opportunity 10 employ his
labor and security that he shall enjoy its
fruits; 70 prevent the strong from op.
pressing the weak and the unscrupulous
from robbing the honest; and TO do for
the equal benefit Of all such things as can
be better done by organized society than
by individuals; and We aim at the aboli.
ton of all laws which give to any class OF
citizens advantages, either Judicial, anan-
cial, industrial or political, that are moi
equally shared BY all others.
III. We further declare that the people
Of New York City should have full con-
troll Of their own local affairs, that the
practice Of drawing grand jurors from
one class should cease, and the require
ment of property qualification for trial
jurors should be abolished; that the pro-
cedure Of our courts should be so simpli-
fed and reformed that the rich shall have
no advantage over the poor; that the
osicious intermeddling Of the police with
pea, esut assemt's..',s should be stoprcJ
that the awe. n ':,s safety and sanitary
inspection c. buildings should De en-.
forced; that in public work sne .,-ea EN-
ployment Of labor should be preferred to
the system which gives contractors op-
portunity TO defraud the city while grind
ing their vorkmen, and that in public EN-.
ployment equal pay should be accorded
TO equal work, without distinction Of sex.
". We declare the crowding Of so
many Of our people into narrow tene-
ments at enormous rents, while half of the
city is yet unbuilt upon, to be scandal
Gus evil; and that TO remedy this state OF
things all taxes on buildings and improve
ments should be abolished, so that no fine
shall be put upon the employment of
labor in increasing living socommods-
tions, and that taxes should be levied ON
land irrespective Of Improvements, SO
that those who are now holding land va
cant shall be compelled either to build on
II themselves or give up the land to those
who will.
v. We declare furthermore that the
enormous value which the presence of a
million and half Of people gives 10 the
land Of this city, belongs properly 70 the
whole community; that il should not &c
10 the enrichment Of individuals and cor
porations, but should be taken in taxation
and applied 70 tho improvement and
identifying Of the city, to the promotion
of the health, comfort, education and
recreation of its people, and 70 tho pro
viding Of means of transit commensurate
with the needs Of great metropolis. We
also declare that existing means Of transit
should not be left in the hands Of corpor.
ations, which, while gaining enormous
profits from the growth Of population,
oppress their employees and provoke
strikes that interrupt travel and imperi
the public peace, that should BY lawful
process be assumed by the city and oper-
stsd for public benefit
vi. To clear the way for such reforms
- are impossible without IL vs favor q
constitutional convention, and since the
ballot = The only method By which in oul
Rspub 70 The redress Of polit .si ~ 1sooial
grisu q. = p - - sought vs. especially
call 4 ep :hs,ges IN go. sasotivs
method shau iessen tke need of mc1:y
In slsetisus, discourage ,r,bery, AMI re
vent intim;dation.
VII. Ana since IN tAs coming aosl
important nunisipalsas IN indspsadsai
pojitisal sstioa a4ords only hops d
sxposing and breaking up ths sxtortios
and psellatioa By watch standing army
Of professional politicians corrupt ths
pecpss whom they Plunder. vs eal1 o. ~
citissns Who desire honest govsFnmsot "a
Join - in IN s6ost 70 secure Il and b
show for once that The vin Of ths people
may peevail even against Ne monsy and